Noninvasive Glucometer Spectrometer Using Optical Modulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noninvasive glucometers suffer from low measurement accuracy, complexity in operation, lack of portability, and inability for continuous real-time detection, causing discomfort and high costs for diabetes patients.

Innovation Solution

A noninvasive glucometer incorporating a light source and spectrometer with an optical modulation layer, photoelectric detection layer, and signal processing circuit, utilizing near-infrared spectral analysis to achieve high accuracy and portability, enabling non-contact, real-time blood glucose monitoring without the need for precise optical components like gratings or prisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If noninvasive detecting technology is used, then patient comfort is improved (no blood collection needed), but measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spectrometer is segmented into three distinct functional layers: optical modulation layer, photoelectric detection layer, and signal processing circuit layer. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall measurement accuracy while maintaining the noninvasive advantage. The optical modulation layer modulates incident light at different wavelengths, the photoelectric detection layer converts light signals to electrical signals, and the signal processing circuit layer reconstructs the original spectrum through differential responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional single-point detection to spectral detection across multiple wavelengths. By detecting light absorption characteristics across a spectrum rather than at a single wavelength, the system achieves higher measurement accuracy for blood glucose concentration while maintaining noninvasive operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If traditional spectrometers with gratings and prisms are used, then spectral analysis accuracy is improved, but device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral analysis accuracyVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical optical components (gratings and prisms) with an integrated optical modulation layer that uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical structures while maintaining spectral analysis capability, significantly reducing device size and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the optical modulation function, photoelectric detection function, and signal processing function into a single integrated spectrometer module. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate gratings, prisms, and detection systems, reducing device complexity while preserving spectral analysis accuracy through the coordinated operation of the three functional layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides high measurement accuracy, portability, real-time detection, simple operation, and stable performance, significantly improving the quality of life for diabetes patients while reducing manufacturing costs and offering broad market prospects.

Implementation Method 1

an optical modulation layer configured to perform light modulation on the incident light to obtain a modulated spectrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight modulation:

Implementation Method 2

a photoelectric detection layer located below the optical modulation layer, and configured to receive the modulated spectrum and provide differential responses with respect to the modulated spectrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

utilizing near-infrared spectral analysis to achieve high accuracy and portability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-infrared spectral analysis:

Data Source

PatentUS11759129B2Noninvasive glucometer and blood glucose detection method

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A noninvasive glucometer and a blood glucose detection method are provided. The noninvasive glucometer includes a light source, a spectrometer and detecting space into which an object to be detected intervenes; the detecting space is connected with the light source and the spectrometer respectively, so that a spectrum emitted by the light source can generate incident light entering the spectrometer after passing through the object to be detected. The spectrometer includes: an optical modulation layer configured to perform light modulation on the incident light to obtain a modulated spectrum; a photoelectric detection layer located below the optical modulation layer, and configured to receive the modulated spectrum and provide differential responses with respect to the modulated spectrum; and a signal processing circuit layer located below the photoelectric detection layer and configured to reconstruct the differential responses to obtain an original spectrum.